Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop joined strong company on Tuesday evening, becoming the third straight Volunteer running back to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season. Bishop entered the Music City Bowl with 983 rushing yards on the season before reaching the mark on his fifth carry of the game.
The Knoxville native ran between the tackles for 18 yards down to the Illinois six-yard line on Tennessee’s first drive of the game.
Bishop joins his former teammates Dylan Sampson and Jaylen Wright as the three 1,000-yard rushers in Josh Heupel’s tenure as head coach. Sampson rushed for a program record 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns on 258 carries during the 2024 season.
Wright’s usage was much lower in 2023 but the then junior tailback rushed for 1,013 yards and just four touchdowns on 137 carries. Wright was a part of a split backfield that included Sampson and senior Jabari Small.
Bishop was right in the middle. The rush that pushed him over the 1,000-yard mark on the season was his 168th of the season. He also has 14 rushing touchdowns this season at the time of publication.
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The Knoxville native was also part of a three-headed monster in Tennessee’s backfield this year. Entering the season, it was unclear who would be the Vols’ lead back but Bishop earned that role. Duke transfer Star Thomas entered the Music City Bowl with 529 yards and seven touchdowns on 95 carries. Sophomore Peyton Lewis totaled 290 yards and seven touchdowns on 70 carries this season before announcing his plan to enter the transfer portal before the bowl game.
Bishop is a local product, shining at Knoxville’s Karns High School before coming to Tennessee as a preferred walk-on. He tore his ACL in fall practice entering his freshman year and battled an injury as Sampson’s backup during the 2024 season. Bishop rushed for 455 yards and three touchdowns during his redshirt freshman season.
The 5-foot-10, 208-pound running back is by far Tennessee’s top returning rusher ahead of the 2026 season. Thomas is out of eligibility while Lewis entered the transfer portal. Freshman Daune Morris will step into a larger role while Tennessee could also add a body in the transfer portal.
Tennessee leads 7-0 with Illinois in the first quarter at the time of publication. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider all night for complete coverage of the Vols’ bowl matchup.
